a/n: I am incredibly grateful to all you readers who take time to read and review this story. You make my day, week, month and year. Hugs and kisses to Jade GreenEyes and LasVegas TowGirls for so kindly pre-reading and listening to me obsess over plot points. Oh and I luv, luv everyone who I had the pleasure of sitting in Writing Circle with! :)

Javamomma – here's your sweet, ginger-haired boy coming to flirt with you – thanks for recommending / pimping this fic!

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight Saga – I am playing with her characters.

Chapter Seven: It Was Like Flying

EPOV

Bella Swan, I swear that woman is going to be the death of me. My fingers alternated between clutching the steering wheel and tapping it anxiously. I am glad for the need to steer as Alice and I make our way, with Emmett and Rose in the back seat, to Bella's house. If it wasn't for my grip on the wheel am sure I would be biting my fingernails, a nervous habit I haven't given into since high school.

I caught my sister staring at my hands from the corner of my eye. I glanced over and almost groaned at the smug smile gracing her face. "What?" I asked her quietly.

"Nothing," she replied, but I knew that she left a teasing 'nervous much?' unspoken, which I really appreciated since we weren't alone in the car. I couldn't hide anything from my twin, but I didn't want to invite the opinions, or probable teasing jibes of my brother and sister-in-law.

Alice knew of my draw to Bella, she recognized it before I did, from that first sight of her in the diner. She has been cautiously supportive. She knows me inside and out, the good and the bad, and was getting to know Bella. Alice was optimistic but just didn't want anyone to get hurt.

When Alice warned me that Bella had not only a history, but a family, and could not be treated like one of my weekend love affairs I almost snarled at her in both embarrassment and anger. I resented her for throwing my recent history in my face, because she knew that is not how I always had been, and she knew why.

It annoyed the hell out of me that Alice was getting to know things about Bella before me. Tonight was my first opportunity to see Bella socially outside of the classroom. Well, except for last weekend.

Seeing Bella in my family's home was unexpected and the reality of her as a Mom floored me. It was a different side of her, one I hadn't seen yet. She was so poised and in control. Her little girls looked so much like her. The look her daughters gave me when I presented them with that box of toys made me feel like the king of the world.

Everything about Bella drew me in. Her voice, her smell, her face, her mind and even her children all combined to make this package that I was hopeless to resist. It confounded me. I couldn't stay away from her. Whenever we were in the same place I needed to be near her and I couldn't seem to stop myself from being in contact with her.

Even worse, is not knowing if I had similar affect on her. That only added to my confusion and my nerves. Every time Professor Donovan flashed Bella his cocky smile or complimented her on a particularly astute observation I felt my guts clench in anger. Did she prefer him over me? Was he a better match?

The woman had me tied up in knots and I only met her a month ago. Alice may tease me about 'crushing' on Bella but I wasn't sure if even she knew how obsessive my infatuation had become.

I was embarrassed when I was outed for my obvious stalking but at the same time secretly pleased that Bella had evidence of my interest in her. Alice was more than happy to hatch a plan to involve us celebrating Bella's birthday and charmed her way with Charlie to acquire both childcare and contact information for any of Bella's friends.

I was surprised how small that list was. I was equally shocked by Charlie's concern about Leah not attending. It made me wonder how close Bella was with her ex-husband because it did not seem too usual for wives to be friends with the husbands' other woman. What concerned me more was the more likely possibility, that they are not, and the observation from her Father was both thoughtless and callous.

My hands squeezed the steering wheel tighter with the thought of Bella hurting in any way. Thankfully we were approaching her driveway and I let my breath out in a heavy sigh, escaping my thoughts.

I pulled up beside a newer model minivan, killed the engine and as I exited the vehicle I was greeted by the glorious sight of Bella's rear end.

Bella was leaned way over, through the side sliding door of her minivan. She was wearing dark jeans that cupped her bottom and as she reached further into the vehicle it exposed more of her behind to my grateful eyes. Bella stood, suddenly and skipped back a step, a pink booster seat in hand. Turning she caught my gaze; my head embarrassingly had tilted to the side as I had been, unconsciously, ogling her. As her cheeks reddened I couldn't help but smile widely, I loved that I could make her blush. I did that.

I stepped to Bella and stopped, perhaps too close, but I just couldn't seem to help myself, and took the seat from her.

"Here let me get that," I said, dipping my head down so I could speak towards her ear. Bella blushed again, and looked down demurely, a small smile playing about her lips. For that moment I didn't see Bella the Mom or Bella the Divorcé, or even Bella who is out of this kid's league. I just saw Bella, a girl, and I really wanted to be her boy.

Bella and I made quick work of the carseats, placing them inside the entrance of her home, where she made a quick good bye to her family that included hugs and birthday wishes from her two little girls. While Bella was busy at the house Alice and Rosalie slipped the box with Bella's cake and a few gift bags into the back of the van.

Alice and Jasper, who we had collected on our way, sat in the back row, Emmett and Rosalie in the middle and I sat in the font with Bella as we drove down the highway to Port Angeles. I had never actually been in a mini-van before and was impressed with how comfortable it was.

The drive went by quickly as we all visited en route. When we arrived the restaurant, two people who turned out to be Bella's friends Ben and Angela, met us at the vehicle. They hugged and wished Bella happy birthday, before we went in and claimed our reservation.

Angela and Ben had made the dinner arrangements and inside the restaurant a large table waited for us. Angela had ordered an assortment of appetizers for everyone to enjoy rather than having a formal dinner.

We all sat down and the waiter arrived immediately with a couple of bottles of wine. Alice placed the cake on the table and handed out sparklers to everyone. Emmett lit the sparklers and we all serenaded Bella with the traditional birthday song. Bella blushed and tried to hush us, looking around at the other patrons, who were looking over and grinning. When we finished up there was applause, which seemed to make Bella even more embarrassed. She did thank us, though, even if she did roll her eyes at the same time.

It was interesting watching Bella interact with her friends, Ben and Angela. It was different from the way she was with Rose or Alice, and even that was different from her demeanour at school. In the few study groups we have had, Bella seemed quiet and held herself apart, until she would throw in an observation that blew the rest of us out of the water.

I wished that she would speak up more around Alice and I. Bella chatted and joked easily with Ben and Angela, smacking Ben's arm at a jibe and rolling her eyes with Angela over some inside joke. They seemed almost like siblings.

I was across the table from Bella, which gave me a good view of her, but I couldn't touch her, which seemed to be all I wanted to do lately.

Feeling left out, I pulled out my phone and opened its camera feature. If nothing else I could take pictures. Bella was opening her gifts now, flustered and telling everyone that they shouldn't have. I restrained my own eye roll over that.

Gnawing my lip nervously, I watched Bella open up the small gif box containing my gift to her. I had racked my brain and wandered around small shops in Olympia trying to find something unique for her, yet not over the top.

She opened her gift and I let out the air I hadn't realized I had been holding, when she smiled and looked at me with shining eyes. Bella pulled out the dainty woven leather bracelet. It had beads of amber strung through the braided strands. A few even contained small insects.

"It's lovely, Edward, where did you find this?" Bella asked, turning to Angela who latched it around her small pale wrist.

"I found it in a small shop that sells rocks, petrified wood and other fossils found in some of the archaeological digs they do around the state," I explained, smiling, pleased that she liked it. I felt slightly smug inside.

After the presents, we finished up eating and packed up to leave for the club.

"Oh, I can't wait to get dancing, how about you guys?" Alice gushed, swivelling her hips and bumping into Bella. "I found the perfect club and even better, it's Retro Night!"

"Oh?" queried Bella, her eyes meeting Angela's, whose mouth a dropped open slightly in surprise.

"Yep," continued Alice, oblivious to the silent exchange, which had me confused as well, "I do believe you said once that all your favourite music is what you listened to in high school. This is perfect, as all they will be playing tonight is music from the eighties and nineties."

I grimaced slightly, worried that Alice may have offended Bella, but surprisingly Bella just laughed and gave a shake of her head.

"Sounds great, Alice, lets go."

Emmett had driven up earlier this week and slipped the manager some cash to reserve us a table. It turned out that his foresight was a really good thing, as the club was packed. We were directed to our table and a server arrived promptly to take our drink order.

The music was loud and reverberated through the floor into our very bones. We were arranged boy-girl around the table, sitting on stools. Bella and the rest of the girls swayed to the music while Emmett, Jasper and Ben hunkered over the table, talking something sports related.

I noticed that Bella's glass was already empty. I looked around the club but I couldn't see a server anywhere to flag down. "Bella," I called to her over the music, "do you want to walk with me to the bar for another drink?" She nodded enthusiastically and hopped down of her stool. She stumbled slightly when her feet met the ground.

"Jeez, those stools are like climbing Mount Everest. I'm surprised that Alice didn't need a grappling hook," Bella said, sidling up close to me, chuckling and shaking her head. I really noticed then just how small she is. Bella's head barely made it to the top of my shoulder and she stood on tip-toe when talking to me in the loud nightclub.

The club was crowded and getting rowdy, as Bella and I made our way to the bar. I snaked my arm around Bella's waist, as we were jostled by the press of bodies, not wanting to lose her. At least that's what I told myself. Guiding our way zigzag through the maze of half-cut patrons we arrived at the equally crowded bar, the bartenders sweating to serve the many people lined up requesting drinks.

I was thankful for the crowd, as I stood behind Bella, my hands resting on her waist. In this situation she couldn't accuse me of invading her space, since there was little to be had. I smiled as I felt her leaning back into me. It felt good, natural.

"Bella!" shouted a woman, pressing through a group standing to our right.

"Lauren! You made it!" shouted Bella in return, stepping away from my hands to hug the blond-haired woman.

"Happy Birthday, Bella! You have to let me buy you a shot, they have the yummiest drinks here to go with the even yummier clientele," Lauren said to Bella, before spying me standing there. "Speaking of yummy, who is that at your ten-o-clock?"

"Oh, OH!" stuttered Bella, looking flustered all of the sudden. "Lauren this is Edward, Edward this is Lauren," Bella introduced.

Lauren eyed me brazenly and I suddenly felt awkward, and even slightly intimidated by her unabashed perusal. "Well, Bella, I'm impressed, when you finally decide to go shopping you definitely hit the gourmet aisle."

Okay, standing right here, can hear you. I started to wonder just how long this Lauren had already been here.

Bella's skin glowed with embarrassment. "Oh, no, Lauren, Edward is a friend from school…," she trailed off. I wasn't sure if she was embarrassed for me or for herself but I was having none of that. I quickly stepped close to Bella, covering my momentary discomfort with bravado.

Wrapping one arm back around Bella's waist, I stuck out my free hand to Lauren. "Good to meet you Lauren. Yes, Bella and I go to school together. Do you live in Forks too?" I greeted her, sporting my best win-them-over smile, as I shook her hand.

Lauren's eyes glazed for a second while she nodded dumbly. "Oh, that's great. You probably know my parents, Carlisle and Esme?" Again Lauren nodded and then her face changed to a look of mild shock. "Oh, you are Edward Cullen," she gasped. I was disconcerted by the weird emphasis she put on my name but at that moment a break appeared and I steered us up to the bar.

Lauren ordered us a round of shots and then she and Bella made some more small talk that I couldn't hear over the din. Finally, we stepped away as Lauren mentioned something about fishing and good luck. Bella turned to me and rolled her eyes.

"Isn't she joining us?" I asked Bella, watching her friend disappear into the crowd.

"Oh no, apparently Lauren has found her happy hunting ground. You guys failed to realize that retro night is code for 'Cougarville'. I don't think there is a guy in here over thirty other than Jasper and Ben," Bella chuckled ruefully, shaking her head.

Bella pulled away from me as we walked from the bar, veering away from the dance floor.

"Hey, where are you going," I called to her, catching her hand and pulling her back towards me.

"Its okay, Edward, thanks for being such a good sport but you don't have to entertain the old lady," she said with a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I don't want to mess with your game. I'll just head back to the table with the others."

I noticed that she wouldn't look and me while she said this. In fact, she appeared to be looking anywhere but at me. It hit me then. Bella was nervous, and more than that, she was unsure.

I felt like such a fool. Bella would have all the same reasons I did for feeling confused and uncertain, if not even more. I remembered then Alice's advice that Bella probably wouldn't make the first move. It was time for me to stop hinting.

I stepped up close to her. Our bodies weren't touching, but I could feel her heat as if we didn't have layers of denim and cotton in the way. I leaned my lips down till they were just touching her ear. For a second I had to still myself and close my eyes. My lips were so close to her skin for the first time and it took my breath away.

"Bella," I breathed into her ear, "The only woman I want to dance with is you."

Then, with the hand I had not relinquished, I pulled her deep into the dance floor, through the crush of bodies, until we were alone, however surrounded.

The beat of the song was strong and the dance floor was dark, lit up randomly with multi-coloured strobe lights. I pulled Bella close to me with a hand on her hip, the fingers of my other hand intertwined with hers, nestled between our chests. She was stiff and I prayed that I wasn't reading her wrong. I felt that I was standing on a precipice.

"Just feel, Bella," I said huskily, the please left silent, as I stared intently into her unfathomable brown eyes.

Hesitantly, she raised her free hand and placed it on top of my shoulder. Her fingers grazed the skin of my neck and my heart raced from her touch. With what seemed like agonizing slowness our bodies began to sway together to the heavy beat. I groaned inside with every brush of our hips as our bodies moved together. I was lost in the warmth she radiated, igniting a fire deep in my belly. My heart pounded.

The music faded out and a slower, more languorous beat took its place. It was some eighties ballad. I released her hand and pulled her closer to me, wrapping my arms around her waist as our bodies slowed in time to the music.

It felt like I couldn't get close enough to her. Bella arms brushed along my shoulders, until her hands joined together behind my neck. Our foreheads touched and both our breaths were coming out in slow pants, from both our previous exertion and the intensity of the moment.

My every nerve was ablaze, reaching for her. The very air seemed thick and heavy, wrapping and binding us together.

"Do you feel that, Bella?" I croaked, my nose brushing the lobe of her small pink ear, "Please, tell you feel it too."

"Y-yes," she stuttered breathlessly.

Not allowing myself to second guess my actions, I ran my nose along her cheek until my lips found hers. Everything around us disappeared at that instance. All that existed was the feeling of her soft lips against mine.

Bella's mouth was still at first, unresponsive, and for a second I felt a flare of panic until her arms tightened. Then, then it was like flying. Bella's lips moved with mine as her hands gripped my hair pulling me into her.

We gave up all pretence of dancing as I gripped her shirt with one hand and entangled the other in her hair. I crushed her to me.

Our lips parted and I groaned into her mouth as her sweet tongue brushed against mine. Everything became surreal, between the flashing lights, the music, and the sensation of our lips and tongues moving together, it was like a dream.

I was jolted back to reality by a sharp hip bumping forcibly against mine. It was Alice and Jasper; they had obviously been dancing together, that is, until Alice hip-checked me. Now the two of them were standing there looking at us with wide eyes.

Both Bella and I realized simultaneously, that we had been basically making out on the dance floor, like teenagers on their parents couch. I looked down at Bella with an apologetic smile but she wasn't looking at me, rather she was, mouth agape, taking in the press of people around us. As her eyes lighted on Alice and Jasper her jaw snapped shut and she bolted.

Stunned, I just stood there as Alice brushed passed me, following Bella through the crowd. Slowly, I turned to face Jasper who was looking at me, straight faced and one eyebrow quirked. Uh oh. The two of us just looked at each other while the song ended and the bodies moved around us.

Then Jasper's face morphed with a lazy smile, he chuckled, shrugged and with a strong pat on my back, he exited the dance floor. Relieved, that I wasn't going to get the shit kicked out of me, I followed suit and returned to our table.

oooOOOOooo

Sunday was a lazy day at my parents' house in Forks. There was a misting of rain outside and the light was getting dim inside. I sighed heavily from where I laid on the sofa, playing with my cell phone. It was getting on to dinner time and I suppose Alice and I should get going home to Olympia, but I wasn't going to suggest it until Alice did.

Mom and Dad had gone out for dinner with friends and it was just Alice and me in the house. With my head resting on one arm, I scrolled through the pictures I had taken last night on my phone. I could hear Alice chatting off in the kitchen. I wondered, for a nanosecond, who she was talking to, before losing myself back into thoughts of last night.

After kissing Bella on the dance floor, I had returned to our table. Alice and Bella were still missing and Jasper had his head close to Angela, talking into her ear. Angela looked at me and then winked. With my face flushed, I debated going back over to the bar when Bella and Alice returned. Alice hopped up onto a stool next to Jasper and Bella stood near me.

She looked at me shyly through her lashes and bit her lip. She looked adorable. Turning her back to the table she touched my arm to get my attention, so I leaned down closer to her.

"That was really embarrassing," she spoke into my ear, so I could hear her over the music, the feel of her breath made me shiver.

I looked at her disconcerted and moved my mouth to her ear. "What? The kiss?" I asked.

"No, getting caught," she responded with a sly smile. I smiled back, but resisted kissing her. All was good in the world.

The rest of the evening had gone by quickly. We shared a few more rounds of drinks and Bella danced with the girls, but I never worked up the courage to ask her to dance again. We never did kiss again either. I had really wanted to walk Bella to the door when we got back to her house, but we had an audience, so it just felt awkward.

I continued scrolling through the photos, stopping to look at a picture I had taken later that evening. It was a shot I took at arms length, with my arm around a slightly inebriated Bella. Her smile was joyous, her eyes slightly glazed and, I noted with a chuckle, that alcohol made the tip of her nose pink up.

During the drive back Bella had fallen asleep on my shoulder in the middle seat. Jasper was driving with a still animated Alice in the front seat. Emmett and Rose dozed behind us. I had put my arm around her the best I could and cradled her head in the crook of my shoulder. My cheek resting against her hair and I breathed her in.

Bella was shifting something inside of me. Feelings I had pushed away years ago, since Irinia broke it off with me. She had made it clear what her use for me was when I had proposed and she had laughed me off. After that I resigned myself to, and admittedly revelled in, being a good time fuck.

Did I want that with Bella? Holding her in my arms I felt differently. I didn't want to be just another pretty face, the pretty boy to rebound out of bad marriage with. But where would I fit with Bella? I wished I could read her mind.

As I placed a soft kiss to the top of Bella's head I caught my sister looking back at me through the space in the front bucket seats. She gave me a sad smile. I knew that she knew. Bella was changing everything.

I was pulled from my reverie by fabric hitting me in the face. Sitting up, my pyjama pants and a t-shirt fell to my lap. "What the fuck, Alice," I snarled, confused and annoyed.

Alice silenced me with a finger and a stern look before smiling and speaking into the phone at her ear, "That sounds great, Bella! Oh, this is going to be so much fun! Okay, we will be there in twenty."

What?

"What's going on, Alice?" I asked, but got another 'finger of silence' while she hung up and ran into the kitchen. Getting up off the couch I followed her into the kitchen where she was pulling a menu out a drawer.

Leaning against the wall I waited, impatiently, for Alice to tell me what was going on. My eyebrows rose then pressed together in confusion as she quickly dialled and ordered four large pizzas for pick up.

Alice smiled smugly as she hung up the phone and pocketed it. "Why aren't you dressed?" she asked me, as if she didn't know I had been standing there the whole time.

"Alice," I growled, "what is going on?"

"We, brother dear, are going to Bella's," she said skipping up to me and giving me a peck on the cheek. "You can thank me later."

"O-kay, but why the pyjamas?"

"Because it is pyjama and pizza Sunday, silly! Now change," she ordered, as she left and began to hop up the stairs, muttering about nailpolish and stick-on tattoos.

I gaped after Alice for a moment, before shrugging. I retrieved my clothes and went to change. Pyjamas and pizza it is.

We were out of the house and at Bella's house in record time, the only hold up being a short wait at the local pizza place. I made Alice fetch the pizza, because there was no way in hell that I was going to be seen in public in my sleep pants. However, if she was willing to wear bunny pyjamas in public, she could be my guest.

When we arrived at Bella's, Alice knocked on the door and I stood behind her holding the pizza boxes. I smiled at the sudden din of excited little voices on the other side of the door. Bella opened the door laughing, "Hi, Alice you made good time…oh!" Bella's mouth dropped opened when her eyes landed on me. "H-hi, Edward, I didn't know you were coming too," she blinked a few times, then with a smile stepped back and held the door open. "Come on in and please don't mind the girls, they are excited to have company."

We stepped inside and toed off our shoes. Alice pulled fuzzy bunny slippers from her bag, which matched her white flannel pyjamas with pink bunnies, and put them on her feet. Alice waltzed into the living room and opened her arms wide. "Okay, who wants pedicures?" she asked Bella's daughters with an experienced and excited tone.

I stood frozen at the door staring at Bella. She was wearing black and navy pinstriped pyjama pants and a black strappy tank top. I swallowed, hard, when her nipples began to peak under the light fabric. No bra. I dragged my eyes to her face and cleared my throat.

"So, where shall I put these?" I asked her, bouncing the boxes in my hands before lowering them slightly to hide my groin. Thankfully, I had kept my briefs on so I wasn't pitching a tent in my blue cotton sleep pants.

Bella eyed the boxes for a second before raising her eyes to my face. "Um, just take them into the kitchen, through there," she said, crossing her arms and blushing, pointing vaguely towards an opening off the entrance with her head.

"Sure thing," I said and quickly headed where she had indicated. Entering the small kitchen, I placed the boxes on the counter, and then stood back against the counter opposite. I took in the surroundings, trying to get a read on Bella through her home, as well as giving my body time to calm down from its reaction to being near her, without a bra. I groaned at the visual and rubbed my hands briskly over my face and through my hair.

"Edward?" I dropped my hands and looked towards Bella who had come into the kitchen. She had put a navy cardigan on. "Everything okay?" she asked moving closer to me.

"Oh, yeah. I hope you don't mind that I'm here," I said, as Bella organized and opened the boxes on the counter. Her kitchen wasn't new but was fresh and tidy. Small appliances dotted the countertops and she moved a stack of mail to the top of her laptop on one end of the counter. Pictures of her kids and postcards were held with magnets on the front of the fridge.

I moved in for a closer look. "So, what exactly are 'Pizza and Pyjama Sunday'?" I asked, looking at the smiling faces of her little girl's. There was one, of the two standing with Chief Swan and an elderly native man. The girls looked younger in this photo and a boat and dock could be seen in the background. They had obviously been fishing, as all four were proudly displaying their catch of the day.

"Oh," Bella gave a breathy chuckle, glancing at me as she pulled plates from the cupboard, "it is a tradition I have created over the last couple of years. Sunday is when I do laundry and the girls and I just hang out at home. So we just stay in our pyjamas all day and order pizza for dinner. We play games and just relax, it's silly really, giving it a name."

"I don't think it's silly at all. Family needs traditions. It makes you a pretty cool Mom, actually," I replied, distracted by a photo booth picture of a much younger Bella hugging another familiar looking girl. "Angela?" I asked, pointing at the photograph.

"Um, Yep," Bella answered, moving to stand next to me. She looked at me bashfully, "That was back in high school. Angela was one of the first friends I made when I moved to Forks from Phoenix."

"Jacksonville?" I asked then, pointing at a postcard with the name written in large bold letters over a city landscape.

"That's where my Mom and Step-Dad live. It is also where I went to University," she said, one finger raising to touch the postcard gently.

"Miss it?" I don't know if I was referring to her Mom or the place, maybe it was both. I had so many questions and every answer created more.

"Yes and no," she said, with a sad smile. Something about how she said that tugged at me and I raised my hand and stroked her hair back, gently running the back of my fingertips over her cheek.

A knock on the door made us jump from whatever place the moment was transporting each of us to.

"I wonder who that could be?" mumbled Bella as she exited the kitchen. I followed Bella and found her opening the door to Jasper.

"Hi Jasper," Alice said, jumping up from the couch, where she had been painting Faith's toenails. "What brings you by?"

Jasper turned at the sound of Alice's voice, a large grin brightening his face. "I found that book I had mentioned, the one on the restorative work done to paintings damaged during the civil war, and I was just stopping by to give it to Bella to give to you…," he trailed off and the two of them just stood there, the door still open and lost in each other.

Bella looked over at me, her eyes wide and her eyebrows raised, a smile played upon her face. I returned her look, raised my brows in response and shrugged.

Bella giggled. "Well Jasper you are in luck, Alice is here and you won't need me as a go between. Why don't you come in? We were about to have pizza. Alice brought enough for all of us," Bella said with an exaggerated sweeping gesture.

"Hey, sure that would be great, thanks Bella," Jasper responded, breaking his eyes away from my sister. This time I had the opportunity to raise my brow at him. When he returned the look with a chagrined smile, I rolled my eyes. All was good.

Bella set Faith and Grace up with their plates on the coffee table, where they sat on the floor and watched a mermaid movie on the television. Then the rest of us adults, balanced ours on our laps sitting in the living room, alternating between chatting eating and getting caught up in the cartoon ourselves.

When everyone had their fill Bella set up the Wii and the Fit board. Faith and Grace laughed and giggled as they helped Alice and I create our Wii avatars. I was a little frightened by how accurate they were and irrationally jealous that Blondie already had one set-up.

Since Bella only had four controllers, Alice insisted that us guys play with the girls, so she could have a little 'girl time' with Bella. It was pretty awesome, actually, even if I did feel like a doofus getting my ass handed to me by a five year old doing the hula hoop.

Though in all fairness, Bella's laughter threw me off as I gyrated my hips madly, balancing on the ridiculously small board for my large feet. When I turned to look at Bella, the sight of her blush and shining eyes, threw off my balance and I stumbled off the board. I had the distinct impression that she had been checking me out.

I flopped down on the couch next to her, earning a dirty look from Alice who was kneeling on the floor painting Bella's toenails. "What were you looking at Bella?" I asked her with a teasing smirk.

"Proof that men really do have a completely different center of gravity than women," she quipped back, looking at me sideways, her lips twitching.

Leaning in closer, I whispered into her ear, "That thought is what made you blush? Well then, in all fairness I think you need to prove your point and show us your moves." Before she could respond, bionic ears Alice smacked me on the leg, "Bella is busy, go play with the rest of the kids, pest."

Rolling my eyes, I begrudgingly obeyed. After the hula hoop, which was Grace's favourite we moved on to the ski jump, where Faith ruled the slope. Grace was getting frustrated, she just couldn't get the timing right. I knelt down beside the little girl, who looked so very much like Bella, and helped explain to her what to look for on the screen. With a light hand I guided her down the slope and helped her keep her form and balance for the jump. She squealed with joy at the successful jump and threw her little arms around my neck. I returned her hug with a gentle squeeze.

The four of us, with Bella and Alice watching, tried out all the activities on the game and when we had completed the last one Bella announced that it was bedtime. Both girls began to protest loudly, not wanting to stop playing, but upon learning that Alice would be reading them their bedtime story, raced each other up the stairs.

I sat on the couch and chatted with Jasper about Forks until Bella and Alice came back downstairs. When I saw Bella walk into the kitchen, I rose and followed her. I found her busy putting the leftover pizza into the fridge.

"Did you want to take any of this to take home?" Bella asked, spying me out of the corner of her eye.

"Nah," I answered, "we're good."

"Okay, did you want a beer or juice or something?"

"Sure, a beer would be great."

Bella handed me a beer from the fridge. Then she pulled a bottle of fruit wine and poured some into a wine glass taken from the cupboard.

"Do they seem engaged?" she asked, motioning with her head to the living room, where Alice and Jasper were talking quietly to each other.

"Um, yep. I think Alice may be crushing on your teacher friend though. I hope that is okay with you?" I asked, testing the waters.

"Absolutely, Jasper is awesome. He and Alice seem to have a lot in common."

I did a little cheer inside at her nonchalance. It was reassuring that Blondie wasn't a rival for Bella's affections.

"Do you mind if I quickly do up these dishes while we visit?" she asked, nodding towards her sink.

"You want me to dry?" I asked, looking for a dishtowel.

"No, that's okay. My Grandma always said to let God do the drying," she laughed, pointing to the dishrack.

I leaned against the counter next to her making small talk about our Profs and assignments, while Bella washed up the few dishes she had in the sink. I sipped my beer and enjoyed the view I had. The bonus of being tall: reach the top shelf of the upper cupboards and have a great view of Bella's cleavage. Her breasts shifted softly together and bobbed as she washed and place items in the dishrack.

"Edward?

"Huh, uh, yeah?" I stuttered, blushing a bit, hoping I hadn't been caught staring. I tried to cover by quickly taking another draw of my beer.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Uh, sure?"

"Okay, because there is something I really need to do right now and I want you to join me, but you cannot tell a soul all right?"

To say I was intrigued and slightly excited would be an understatement. The semi I was sporting from checking out her cleavage was heading to full on wood. "Absolutely, mums the word."

She gave me a strange look then smiled. Picking up her wine glass, she motioned me to follow and we headed to the back exit off the kitchen. We stepped out onto back porch and Bella reached under the step, pulling out a small plastic tacklebox.

She sat down on the top step and patted beside her. As I folded my tall frame down on the step, she had opened the tacklebox and pulled out an ashtray, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

"This is my dirty little secret. Think you can handle it?" Bella asked with a laugh and a quirk of her brow. She quickly lit up and took a long draw. As she exhaled, her face and shoulders relaxed noticeably.

I reached over, taking the cigarette from her fingers. My fingers slid slowing across hers as I took the smoke from her. After taking a long drag, I replied, "Yeah, I think I can handle it."

With a coy smile, Bella took another sip of her wine. We continued on in silence looking out on the backyard, sitting in the dark, sharing the cigarette.

Watching her wrap her lips around the cigarette wasn't doing much to help the situation in my pants. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. She passed the cigarette back to me. It was almost erotic placing my lips to the same place where hers lips have just been. I could taste her on the filter.

Leaning across her, I reached to stub the smoke out in the ashtray. My head was in front of Bella's face and I felt her breath on my ear. The air seemed to hum between us. All I had to do was turn my head. So I did.

I brushed my nose against hers. "Bella" I breathed. Our lips touched, then again and again. Gentle, chaste kisses that tasted of cigarettes and strawberry wine. Then she opened her mouth slightly, releasing a breathy moan across my face. Turning our bodies into each other, her hands were in my hair and I moved one to her waist, reaching up to cup her chin with my other.

"Edward, no, we shouldn't do this…," she said huskily. Her words made my heart clench. We had yet to discuss what had happened last night. I could sense her hesitancy in the air between us.

"Why Bella?" I asked not moving away, refusing to break the moment. I needed to feel her. I knew, though, I knew what made her nervous. The same fears fluttered in my own belly. Resolutely, I pulled her face closer to mine, my eyes pouring all my desire into her caramel ones.

"I'm not a child, Bella. You don't have to be afraid. I know what I want. Just…just be with me," I whispered into her mouth and touched my lips to hers again.

Our kisses deepened, our tongues tentatively, shyly touching. It was gentle and unhurried. I stroked her neck softly, and then pulled her head even closer, sucking her bottom lip into my mouth. Her hands left from pulling through my hair and dropped down stroking her fingertips across my chest. Her touch sent a current through me, making my heart stutter. I hardened even further from the feel of her soft fingertips.

I lowered my hand, first caressing her neck, then her collar bone, and then brushed down over her left breast. The draw she had for me was all-consuming.

"Edward," she moaned against my mouth before gasping slightly as her nipple hardened beneath my palm, her fingers gripping my t-shirt. I nipped at her neck, as her head lolled to the side and palmed her breast more firmly, spurred by her small sounds.

Bella and I jerked apart at the sudden squeak of the door opening.

"Um, hey, sorry Bella! I…er, just wanted to let you know that I was heading out. School night and all that," said Jasper, standing in the doorway, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

Blushing scarlet, Bella jumped up from the stoop. "Oh, sure, sorry Jasper. I was just coming back in." She turned looking at me, her lips were swollen and red and I wanted them back.

"I will be right there, you go ahead," I said, urging her to go back inside. If I stood up now there would be no doubt what we had been getting up to out on the back step. Suddenly, I felt like I had just been caught necking by my Mom or something.

As Bella followed Jasper back into the house, I let out a long breath, and then smiled. Licking my lips I could still taste strawberry wine. Once my body settled down, I picked up Bella's glass and my empty beer bottle and headed into the house.

I deposited the items on the kitchen counter and followed the sound of Bella's voice to the front door. Alice was standing beside Jasper with her bag on her shoulder. It looks like we were all leaving. I caught Bella's eye as I sauntered towards the group. Smiling, as she blushed, she pulled her sweater tight capturing it under her arms as she crossed them, tucking her hands. That did marvellous things to her chest. Licking my lips slowly, I smiled back.

"Ready to go big brother?" Alice asked, eyeing me suspiciously. She was smirking, which caused me to narrow my eyes at her in warning.

"Sure Alice, I will be right there just give me a second," I said.

Jasper opened the door and offered to walk Alice out. There was definitely something happening there. Bella shut the door then turned to look at me.

Pulling on my coat, I stepped close to Bella, "I had a great time tonight. I really hope to get invited to another pyjama party." I chuckled inside and smiled as she blushed, picking up on my innuendo. Oh, I definitely waned to have another pyjama party with you Bella. Better yet, a naked party. With that image there is going to be a party in my pants to attend to when I get home.

Placing my hands on her hips, I leaned down and placed a single soft kiss on her lips. "Goodnight Bella. See you in class Tuesday," I said quietly. Then I walked out the door, my heart thrumming and my spirits high.

a/n: Here are two stories I am loving and recommend you check out:

"All I Want" by momof4luvntwisaga

"Elementary Education" by Muse2MyMojo